After a few minutes, a group accompanied with a tour guide came in. The guide was speaking French. Ted was very fluent in this language.
«Mesdames et messieurs, cest une division de la magie. M. Ted vous dit tout. Hopefully, you have a good command of the French language, sir?» he turned to Ted in English.
«Yes, sure».
Ted continued with the excursion. He was showing to the guests from France various exhibits and translating the magicians stories. The guests were particularly amazed by their ghosts and spooks. They would meet the appearance of each and every new magician with stormy applause. Then they asked Ted to perform his own magic tricks. To their complete and utter joy Ted turned a chair into a bulky vase and vice versa. By the end of their tour the visitors entered the labyrinth. They were absent for a long time, so Ted was concerned. Might they have got lost and forgotten how to open the entrance door? Another five minutes passed, the door opened up and two tourists emerged from the labyrinth. They were radiating fun.
«Are we the first ones?»
«Yes, you are. Are you O.K.?»
«Oh, were absolutely fine! We were the first to find the exit. Down there, inside the labyrinth, a giant crab attacked us. But we defeated it».
Only a quarter of an hour later the whole group was outside. Some of its members were lucky to find the exit, whereas the others used the alarm button. Nevertheless, all of them were satisfied and thanked Ted for a long time afterwards. Their guide needed much time to withdraw the Frenchmen from the hall.
One more working week flew past. Ted rarely talked to Alice (the girl was getting ready for her exams) and frequently communicated with Jeffrey. The latter found it difficult to decide what he is going to do for living. His long-awaited Saturday set in. Alice gave Ted a phone call in the morning.
«Hi! Are you awake yet?»
«Hi there! Almost. I usually wake up late on the weekends».
«Thats the reason I decided to wake you up. You, men, are fond of lying in bed!»
«Exactly».
«Id love to invite you for breakfast and then well go to the arena».
«With pleasure! Where shall we have breakfast?»
«I know one lovely café. Come on, transport yourself to me and Ill show you».
«I agree. Give me another twenty minutes».
Ted got ready quickly and moved to Alices house. She was already waiting for him.
«Where are we heading for?»
«Pretty close. An admirable place. You must be strong today!»
«This is just a practice. Its purpose is to recollect the skills, to warm up a bit»
«Did I tell you that I had always been your fan?»
«Yes, you did. When we were at Jeffreys place».
«Ah, right. Once I almost fought with Mary. She was a Thompsons fan. Here we are».
They came into a tiny and cozy cafeteria. There were few visitors. The friends chose a place by the window. A waiter immediately came up to them and put a menu on their table.
«Here is the menu. Please choose».
Ted chose fried eggs with bacon and coffee, having pronounced his order out loud. However, nothing happened. Alice laughed.
«This isnt a magic café! Waiter!»
The waiter came up to their table holding a notepad and a pen.
«What would you like to eat?»
«Fetch us please two dishes with fried eggs and two cups of coffee».
The waiter jotted their order and left.
«You havent called me a lot these days».
«I am sorry. I was afraid I might bother you while you were getting ready for your examinations. But I thought about you. Today I am available for you for the entire day. Do you want me to spend it with you?»
«Sure, but nothing will come out of it. After the joust I am to accompany my parents to their acquaintances tea-party. Dad said it was crucial».
«What a pity. I am going to visit my parents tomorrow. I spend every Sunday at their place. Mom minded my moving to London and living here all by myself. After all, I am capable of transporting myself to work from any place in Great Britain. Yet I felt like being self-sustained».
«And?»
«So far it has been pretty successful».
Their breakfast was served and they started to eat.
«You have seldom spoken about your parents. Youve only mentioned that your father is a doctor and that you were born and bred in Scotland. Are you Scottish?»
«No, I am an Englishman, but I was born in Scotland and I even know the language a little».
«How interesting! Is it very different from English?»
«A little. As Ive already mentioned, my Dad is a general practitioner, while my Mom is a chemist. She grows magic medical herbs by herself. In childhood I would help her, but it never attracted me to such an extent. I spent much time reading various books. Im fond of deciphering and unraveling mysteries».
«Yeah, back at school you excelled! When everybody else was already desperate to find out what, in fact occurred and was at their wits end. Wow! As soon as I recall it, my memories send thrills down my spine!»
«What about your parents? What do they do for living?»
«Mom is jobless. She stays at home and her hobby is conducting experiments with all types of curses and incantations. Dad is the Second Masters personal assistant. You met him».
«Yes, I did. When is your exam?»
«Pretty soon. By the end of July. The results will arrive at the beginning of August».
«Good luck to you!»
«Thanks. But well see each other before. Or well continue staying in touch by phone.»
«Sure!»
Their breakfast was over. Ted asked for the bill and paid.
«You werent supposed to pay for me. Above all, it was me who invited you».
«Cmon! How could I possibly let a girl pay for me?»
«All right. Please dont exaggerate. Otherwise you will remain without a coin!»
They left the café.
«Where is the joust going to be held?»
«At the arena outside the city. Do you know where it is?»
«No clue».
«Then hold me by my hand and you will be transported there together with me. One more thing I havent mentioned: Jeffrey will also be at the arena».
«But he is your friend! No wonder».
«Thank you! I was afraid you would mind his presence there».
«No way! It is a quarter to one p.m. Its about time!»
Chapter 5
Alice took Ted by his hand and he pressed the gem of his portal-ring. They found themselves in front of a bizarre building which looked like a small stadium, yet spectator boxes were arranged one above another. It might seem to the uninitiated viewer that the Coliseum had left Rome for London and taken its form there in the city center.
«Have we reached our destination?»
«Yes, we have. Here the championship will take place».
«But its so big! Our school arena was much smaller in size».
«Right you are. Hopefully, Im going to cope with the challenge. At long last I am not losing anything».
«Arent you scared of losing the fight?»
«Sure I am. Ill make every possible effort to win».
«You will make it, Ted! I trust you».
«Thank you, Alice. Ill try my best not to disappoint you. Well, lets go!»
They entered the building and saw Jeffrey.
«Heya!» he greeted them. «Ive been waiting for you here for ten minutes or so».
Ted and Jeffrey hugged each other. Alice stepped a little back, lest Jeff all of a sudden decide to embrace her, too.